Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road will reopen to traffic this week following months of hard work to rebuild sections of road damaged by major landslips in the unprecedented June 2021 storms.
Significant landslips occurred at 12 locations along Mt Baw Baw Road, forcing its closure for about 45 kilometres from Willow Grove Road to the South Face Road intersection. The extreme weather event caused large sections of the road to fall away, and in addition, many drains were blocked by fallen trees and other vegetation.
Geotechnical engineers used specialist equipment to stabilise the hillsides and future-proof against further slippage as part of the recovery. More than 20,000 tonnes of rock were imported to the landslip sites and placed by crews to strengthen the roadway and rebuild the impacted locations.
High altitudes and the narrow roads added to the challenging task as crews worked tirelessly to clear debris and restore access over the cold and wet winter conditions.
The repairs and improvements to Mt Baw Baw Road will support the local economy, promoting increased tourism by improving access to the area with safer and more reliable journeys.
Works to repair the retaining wall at the final landslip site will progress under traffic management conditions. All works are anticipated to be completed and the road fully restored in early 2022.
Upgrades to the affected sections included drainage and earthworks, major excavation, asphalt resurfacing, installing guardrails, road strengthening, line-marking, and installing new guideposts and signs.
The June storms impacted more than 2,000 kilometres of Gippsland's arterial road network, with more than 180 roads closed across the region's arterial and local road network as a result.
Elsewhere across the region the Andrews Labor Government is also supporting residents ongoing recovery and rebuilding process with a $25.7 million funding package.
The funding includes $21 million to repair the arterial road network damaged in the floods and $320,000 to manage continued hazards, recover timber and ensure access for the timber harvest in state forests and adjoining land.
As stated by Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll
"We thank the local community for their patience and the hard work of all involved in this complex project to reopen Mt Baw Baw Road to locals and tourists ahead of the summer holidays."
"Not only have we repaired the road - we've made a range of improvements that will make journeys into the high country safer and more reliable for all drivers into the future."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
"The reopening of Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road has required crews to work hundreds of hours to clear and remove fallen trees, debris, and hazards. These further improvements to the road and surrounds will enhance safety, improve access to market for a range of industries and help Gippsland's economy to rebound as we continue our pandemic recovery efforts."
